Acute leukemia presenting as diabetes insipidus and bilateral exudative retinal detachment--a case report

To report an unusual case of leukemia presenting as both bilateral exudative retinal detachment (ERD) and central diabetes insipidus (DI), we evaluate the clinical hematological records including bone marrow aspirations and CSF tapping, both osmolarity and electrolytes concentration of the serum and urine, brain MRI, fundus photographs and fluorescein angiographs in this 25-year-old female patient. Examinations of peripheral blood and bone marrow aspiration confirmed the diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML-M0). Fluorescein angiography (FA) revealed bilateral ERD, dense choroidal leukemia cell infiltration with overlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction and focal areas of choroidal infarction. Changes in both osmolarity and electrolytes concentration of the serum and urine from vasopressin test supported the diagnosis of central DI. Central DI and ERD may be presenting signs of acute leukemia and both may represent CNS involvement. In our case, dense choroidal leukemic cell infiltration results in devitalization of RPE and choroidal infarction. Leukemic disruption of hypothalamic pituitary area may lead to complete or partial deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Rapid improvement in visual acuity and partial symptom relief of DI may ensue from appropriate chemotherapy and nasal DDAVP (1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin) supply.